Investigation into claims school was “promoting extreme Islam”

A private school is under investigation by the government following claims it was promoting “an extreme form of Islam”.

The Department for Education has confirmed it is investigating allegations by Sky News about the Islamic Tarbiyah Academy in Dewsbury.

A spokesperson for the department said: “These serious allegations are under investigation. While it would be inappropriate to comment on the specific investigations of these institutions, we are clear that extremism has no place in our society and we are determined to protect children from it.

“Where evidence of extremist practice is found we will take swift and direct action, working in conjunction with the police.

“To improve our ability to tackle extremism at its root, we are taking steps to strengthen the regulation of out-of-school settings to ensure that children are properly protected.

“We also run a counter-extremism helpline which teachers, parents and other members of the public can use to raise concerns about young people at risk of radicalisation, or about institutions which may be putting young people at risk. These concerns are then immediately investigated.

“At the same time, it is vital that all schools provide young people with the high quality education they deserve and where schools are not doing this and are focusing on ideological indoctrination instead we do not hesitate to take regulatory action, which includes closing the schools.”

The academy is said to teach 140 primary school children in an after-school madrasa and runs full-time classes for over-16s and adults.

We contacted the academy this morning and we were told they are expected to comment later today.